Beaker: Pet rooster to get a new home in Petoskey

After a year of fighting in the local court system to keep their pet rooster named Beaker, Andy and Sharon Peters have decided to move their bird to a new home.

After a year of fighting in the local court system to keep their pet rooster named Beaker, Andy and Sharon Peters have decided to move their bird to a new home.

Beaker will make the new — and soon to be 501(c)3 nonprofit — Second Chance Ranch and Rescue in Petoskey his new nesting grounds.

Dr. Pam Graves, a veterinarian and partner at Jensen's Animal Hospital, is the executive director for the Second Chance Ranch and Rescue and has agreed to give Beaker a new home.

The Peters were found in violation of having a farm animal on a residential property smaller than the county requirements in September, but fought the decision in Emmet County 90th District Court and, most recently, an appeal in the 57th Circuit Court.

The Peters maintained throughout that Beaker was a pet, not a farm animal, and should be exempt from the county ordinance requiring a property size of at least two acres to operate a farm.

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Based on the courts' ruling, the Peters had to choose one of three options before a court imposed deadline Tuesday — either remove Beaker from their home, appeal the decision one last time in local court or head to the Michigan Court of Appeals.

Andy said after talking to his lawyer Hob Ingleson, he thought the state appeals court would likely uphold the county's ruling because they tend to avoid overturning local decisions.

So, the family turned to the developing Second Chance Ranch and Rescue, where other chickens, dogs and horses call home.

Because the rooster has a hooked foot and was nearly blind from an accident as a chick, the Peters were initially hesitant to leave their chicken at just any farm.

In fact, it had been tried unsuccessfully three times before at other farms.

But, Thursday, Beaker did much better in his first introductory visit to the ranch.

"He did pretty well," Sharon said.

Dr. Graves said Beaker seemed to fit right in, mingling in a small kennel near other animals, including horses.

Graves said Beaker seemed to be unfazed by the new surroundings, scratching at feed and "acting like a chicken."

"He seemed to like it here," Graves added.

At the farm, Beaker will integrate with other chickens, including bantam and Wyandotte varieties, dogs and horses. Andy also plans to build a day pen for Beaker to spend his afternoons.

During the next couple weeks, the couple will make several visits to integrate their bird and make sure he will survive the transition.

But, it was still a melancholy situation for the Peters, who say they will continue to attempt to sell their home and move to a place where they can have Beaker in the future.

"It's sad, obviously," Sharon said. "It's not what we wanted and it's not right in a number of ways."